It’s not uncommon to experience a sudden slip and fall, but not all fall victims get up and dust themselves off with nothing more than a moment’s embarrassment. Depending on the circumstances of the fall, some slip and fall accidents end in serious injuries. In fact, falls are the leading cause of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), as well as other serious harm. Grave injuries from slip-and-fall accidents are most common in the elderly and very young fall victims, but serious injuries can happen from a fall at any age, some with temporary or permanent life-altering impacts that cause financial repercussions as well as physical ones.
Injured in Oklahoma City? Call Warhawk Legal at (405) 397-1717 for a free consultation. Our personal injury attorneys work on contingency — you pay nothing unless we win your case.
What Causes Slip-and-Fall Injuries?
When something interferes with the foot’s natural grip during a footfall, it sometimes sends the foot flying out from under the person, ending in a hard fall. In some cases, the fall victim twists painfully out of balance on the way down, causing the overextension of muscles and vertebrae even before the painful impact with the ground. Sometimes, a slip-and-fall accident victim also hits obstacles on the way down, resulting in blunt force trauma injuries.
Common causes of slip and fall accidents include the following:
- Wet floors from spills, leaks, and mopping
- Icy walkways, steps, and sidewalks
- Cracked pavement
- Loose or rolled floor mats and carpets
- Loose sand or debris
- Cluttered floors
- Slick floor surface from improper cleaning products
- Inadequate lighting
- Unmarked floor level changes
- Cracked or broken tiles or floorboards
Most slip-and-fall accidents are preventable when property owners take prompt, reasonable measures. This is particularly important for commercial property owners who invite others onto the property for business purposes.
What Types of Serious Injuries Result From Slip-and-Fall Accidents?
A hard fall places stress on the body in multiple ways, including the twisting and overextension during the slip and the impact of the fall. Common serious injuries in slip-and-fall accidents include:
- Traumatic brain injuries, ranging from concussions to diffuse axonal injuries, resulting in impairment
- Neck injuries, such as whiplash and damaged vertebrae
- Back injuries
- Fractures, including serious hip fractures in elderly fall victims
- Soft-tissue injuries such as sprains and ligament tears in the knees, wrists, ankles, and shoulders
- Facial and dental trauma
- Spinal cord injuries
- Lacerations, contusions, and abrasions
Serious injuries can cause temporary or permanent adverse consequences, such as difficulty accomplishing routine daily tasks and returning to work. The repercussions of a slip-and-fall injury become the damages in a slip-and-fall accident claim.
Recovering Compensation for Serious Slip-and-Fall Accidents
A fall with serious injuries can quickly become costly and painful. A successful Oklahoma City slip-and-fall accident claim cannot erase the injuries, but can relieve the related financial hardship and provide the injury victim with a sense of justice. Common compensation recovered in slip-and-fall injury claims includes past and future medical expenses, past and future income loss, lowered future earning capacity due to disability, and compensation for pain and suffering. If the injury victim suffers catastrophic injuries like disfigurement, scarring, loss of vision, or diminished quality of life, they may recover additional compensation.
What to Do at the Scene and Oklahoma’s Statute of Limitations
Report the fall to the property owner or manager before leaving — request a written incident report and retain a copy. Photograph the hazard before it is cleaned up or repaired: wet floors, broken surfaces, inadequate lighting, missing handrails. Take photographs of your injuries that day and in the days following as bruising and swelling develop. Seek same-day medical evaluation and describe the mechanism of injury (slip, trip, fall from height) precisely — the treatment record must connect your injuries to the premises incident.
Oklahoma’s statute of limitations for premises liability slip-and-fall claims is two years from the date of the incident. Claims against government-owned premises — city sidewalks, public buildings, government facilities — require written notice within one year under the Oklahoma Governmental Tort Claims Act. This shorter deadline catches unrepresented claimants regularly. An attorney files the notice and manages both deadlines simultaneously.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The store’s manager said the fall was my fault for not watching where I was going — does that end my claim? No. A manager’s on-scene characterization is not a legal determination. Oklahoma’s comparative negligence system allows recovery even if you bore some fault — your award is reduced by your fault percentage, not eliminated (unless your fault exceeded 50%). Whether the hazard was obvious and whether you exercised reasonable care are questions for a jury, not a manager.
What if my injuries from the fall did not seem serious immediately but worsened over days? Delayed symptom presentation is medically common after fall injuries — spinal compression, soft-tissue damage, and concussions often present fully over 48–72 hours. What matters is a documented incident and a medical record that attributes your injuries to the fall. An attorney connects the timeline.
What does Warhawk Legal charge to handle a slip-and-fall case? Nothing unless we win. Contingency fee representation — free consultation at (405) 397-1717.
For more information about personal injury law in Oklahoma, visit our personal injury practice page. Ready to speak with Joe Carson? Contact Warhawk Legal for a free consultation — no fee unless we win.
If you or a loved one has been injured, contact our experienced Oklahoma City slip and fall attorney at Warhawk Legal. We offer free consultations and only get paid when you win.